Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-02
A Japanese Execution.

As each man stepped from the path on to
the plateau, his eyes were firmly bandaged
with white paper, the only act of mercy
saw vouchsafed that morning Finally they
were ranged in line, the two cripples hud'
died on the ground, their
poor heads, as they dropped from
shoulder to shoulder, beirg roughly buffet
ed to proper angle by the policemen in
charge. This accomplished, amid a silence
80 absolute that we could almost hear our
hearts beat the great man on the camp stool
rose, and unfolding large document read in
a loud voice what we supposed to be a de-
scription of the crimes for which the poor
fellows were TO suffer, and the process
OF condemnation and sentence This
was very long business, and be-
fore it had nearly flashed the n1
tive spectators were laughing and jok
ing upon the appearance of the doomed men,
with that callousness to human suffering
which so much blackens the otherwise
amiable and pleasing character of the Japa-
ns Sc people. At last it was finished As
there were but five holes for seven prisoners,
two were obliged to remain in blind agony
while their companions were being dispatched.
Five men were accordingly thrust forward
with the slaves and fists of the pollce each
man was made to squat on mound, his
clothes,-if filthy, tattered rags could be
called clothes-stripped from his shoulders.
his hands tied behind his back and his head
pu shed forward over the hole. Our feelings
al this awfu moment can better be imagined
than described, but think we felt quite as
much pity for the two poor wretches left
alone to listen to what was going on without
that artificial aid to fortitude which the sight
of crowd sometime gives, as for
their companions on their death
seats Undoubtedly execution by the
trenchsnt japanese sword is as mer-
ciful a death as can be desired; but the ORR
entail nature, as if to compensate for this err
ing on the side Of mercy, cOunter6alances il
bv an undue prolongaton of the preparations
for death, which is verse than a hundred
deaths. SO in this case As the poor fell
lows knelt over their holes the executioner
slowly and deliberately took off his coat and
barred his arms Then he took from its silk
casing the fatal sword, examined it fondly
and lingeriugly from the faSuri me, or filings
on the hilt to keep the grasp from slipping,
along the kiytBlon, or groove in the blade,
to the point, held it over pail while coolie
trickled water down it, and with a great deal
of settling of his feet was ready. felt sick
and giddy. but kept my eyes fixed on the
scene. At sign from the official on the camp
stool, the executioner raised his sword slight
ly. hardly half a dozen inches, and almost
before | could realize it the mans head
was hanging over the hole b. a single
ligament and the blood was gushing forth IN
torrents. then saw why the execuuouer had
not completely severed the head; and the
wonderful skill of the Japanese swordsmen.
using as they do the most perfect weapons in
the world, can be imagined 10 so arranging
the force of the blow that absolute decapita
ton does not take place. He tore the head
off and held it toward the four sides of the
square; then he gave it to coolie, who
roughly plastered the severed portion with
clay and stuck it on kind of elevated shelf.
In the meanwhile two coolies were humping
on the back of the PROSTATE body to hasten
the rush of blood, after which one of the
coarse mats was thrown over it and Ii was
laid aside. l had seen enough, and
turned my head away as the executoner, after
wiping his blade with paper, approached the
second poor wretch. who was shouting out
something at the top of his voice, whether a
confession or denunciation of injustice l
was not scholar enough to understand. The
Gentleman's Magazine.